Canadian Company Receives Final Tender Approval From Rwanda For Vital AIDS Drug

TORONTO, May 7 /PRNewswire/ - Apotex Inc., Canada's largest generic
pharmaceutical company has successfully bid and been awarded a tender from
the Rwandan Government for the life saving triple combination AIDS drug
"Apo Triavir". Apotex is the first company to provide this medicine to
Africa under the provisions of the Canadian Access to Medicines Regime
(CAMR).
The CAMR provides a mechanism for developing countries to address
critical healthcare needs by importing less expensive generic versions of
patented drugs. Following the process it has taken Apotex over three years
to get to this point where a drug can go to thousands in Africa.
Apotex is the only company in Canada to have worked through the
complicated CAMR process. The Generic Pharmaceutical Industry has
recommended that the Federal Government simplify the process of getting
urgently needed drugs to Africa.
Apo Triavir is a combination of 300 mg Zidovudine, 150 mg Lamivudine
and 200 mg Nevirapine and was evaluated and approved under the provision of
the CAMR by Health Canada. TriAvir fully conforms to all Health Canada
regulations and requirements for marketing a drug in the Canadian
healthcare system. As per Canadian regulations, the product can only be
exported to eligible countries under CAMR and cannot be sold in Canada
until the relevant patents expire.
Apotex is producing Apo Triavir at cost, with the price quoted in the
Tender at 19.5 cents (US) per tablet. The three separate AIDS brand
products would cost around $6.00 per dose if bought individually.
"If other critical medicines are to go to Africa in a reasonable
timeframe, the Federal Government must change the CAMR Legislation. CAMR is
unworkable as it now stands. Apotex decided to do this because it was the
right thing to do for the people dying from AIDS in Africa," stated Jack
Kay, Apotex President and COO.
The Apotex Group has 6,000 employees in Canada and exports close to 300
quality lower cost medicines to 115 countries. It is the # 1 pharmaceutical
company in Canada for R&D with planned expenditures of $2 Billion over the
next 10 years.

SOURCE Apotex Inc.

TORONTO, May 7 /PRNewswire/ - Apotex Inc., Canada's largest generic
pharmaceutical company has successfully bid and been awarded a tender from
the Rwandan Government for the life saving triple combination AIDS drug
"Apo Triavir". Apotex is the first company to provide this medicine to
Africa under the provisions of the Canadian Access to Medicines Regime
(CAMR).
The CAMR provides a mechanism for developing countries to address
critical healthcare needs by importing less expensive generic versions of
patented drugs. Following the process it has taken Apotex over three years
to get to this point where a drug can go to thousands in Africa.
Apotex is the only company in Canada to have worked through the
complicated CAMR process. The Generic Pharmaceutical Industry has
recommended that the Federal Government simplify the process of getting
urgently needed drugs to Africa.
Apo Triavir is a combination of 300 mg Zidovudine, 150 mg Lamivudine
and 200 mg Nevirapine and was evaluated and approved under the provision of
the CAMR by Health Canada. TriAvir fully conforms to all Health Canada
regulations and requirements for marketing a drug in the Canadian
healthcare system. As per Canadian regulations, the product can only be
exported to eligible countries under CAMR and cannot be sold in Canada
until the relevant patents expire.
Apotex is producing Apo Triavir at cost, with the price quoted in the
Tender at 19.5 cents (US) per tablet. The three separate AIDS brand
products would cost around $6.00 per dose if bought individually.
"If other critical medicines are to go to Africa in a reasonable
timeframe, the Federal Government must change the CAMR Legislation. CAMR is
unworkable as it now stands. Apotex decided to do this because it was the
right thing to do for the people dying from AIDS in Africa," stated Jack
Kay, Apotex President and COO.
The Apotex Group has 6,000 employees in Canada and exports close to 300
quality lower cost medicines to 115 countries. It is the # 1 pharmaceutical
company in Canada for R&D with planned expenditures of $2 Billion over the
next 10 years.
SOURCE Apotex Inc.